ROTUNDITY OF THE EARTH AND THE SABBATH.
By Editor
In our remarks, last week, upon the discourse of the Rev. Dr. Potts, we forgot to say that, among the objections which he advanced against such views as Seventh-day Baptists hold, the impossibility of observing the same absolute time every where on the surface of the globe was one. The cavalier manner in which he stated this objection, carried the idea that he considered it unanswerable; and if the impression left upon his hearers was that the observers of the seventh day are so far behind the age, that they do not even know that the world is round, it was probable just such an impression as he would not care about removing. But we would ask the Doctor a few questions on this point. 1. Do you not teach that it is the duty of Christians, every where on the surface of the globe, to observe the first day of the week as holy time? 2. Do you not teach that there is, in the New Testament, what is equivalent to an express law, requiring the observance of the first day of the week, to the exclusion of any and every other day of the septenary cycle, because that, and that only, fitly commemorates the resurrection of Jesus? If this is not your teaching, we greatly misunderstand you. 3. When you insist upon this duty of sanctifying the first day of the week, do you mean that Christians should every where observe the same absolute time? 4. If you can pertinaciously contend for the universal observance of Sunday, (as you evidently do,) without meaning to insist upon the same absolute time, why may not Seventh-day Baptists contend for the universal observance of Saturday, without having it flung at them that they contend for what is impracticable? 5. When you insist upon the first day of the week as the proper time for sabbatizing, do you not mean the weekly return of that very day on which Christ is supposed to have risen from the dead? Does it ever enter your mind, that this is quite as impracticable as to observe the weekly returns of the day on which God ceased from the work of creation? 6. Between New York and Jerusalem interpose more than a hundred degrees of longitude, making about seven hours difference in time. Do you not as actually and truly keep the first day of the week as the Christians of Jerusalem do, although you begin and end your observance seven hours later? On the suggestion that the day ends at six o'clock in the evening, the Christians of Jerusalem are through with their Sunday observance, about the time you are ready to commence preaching in the morning. Yet you go on with your observance, afternoon and evening, all the time alluding to the day as the day of the Saviour's resurrection; and we take for granted, that you mean what you say. Certainly, the Doctor's fling at Seventh-day Baptists, (though he did not mention them by name,) was a virtual destruction of his own argument. Those who are so earnest for the observance of a particular day themselves, and plead for it on a particular ground, namely, that it commemorates an important fact, which cannot be so fitly commemorated on any other day, should not attribute folly to others for carrying out the same principle. Whatever force there is in the objection alluded to, it is, nevertheless, an objection which the advocates of Sunday observance have no business to avail themselves of. For whether they can observe the same absolute time, or not, they know that they can, and do, observe the first day of the week. Suppose a person should set out from Jerusalem to make the circuit of the globe; suppose it to be required of the inhabitants of each country, through which he travels, to do him homage as he passes along; and suppose him to possess such extraordinary power of locomotion, that he can make the whole circuit in twenty-four hours. In seven hours he arrives in New York, and receives the homage of the citizens. But suppose some person should suggest, that the New Yorkers were not honoring the same identical person that the people of Jerusalem did, because they did not do it at the same absolute time; who would not see the folly of the suggestion? The obvious reply would be, that they were simply required to honor him when he came to them, and while he continued with them. We presume, therefore, that should it be suggested to Dr. Potts, that he did not observe the first day of the week, because he did not observe the same absolute moments which were observed by Christians in Jerusalem, he would reply, that he was not required to observe them; that he was not required to observe the first day of the week, till it had arrived where he was. He would say, "The day starts from Jerusalem, at such an hour; when it arrives here, I will begin to do it honor, and will continue to do so, as long as it stays; and in doing so, I honor the same day which started from Jerusalem seven hours before." He never dreams of honoring a different day, because its arrival in New York is seven hours after it has left Jerusalem; he knows it is the same day, and he observes it as such. Now, if the Doctor, and his associates, will be magnanimous enough to give us the benefit of the same mode of reasoning which they would, unquestionably, employ themselves, were they disputing with anti-sabbatarians, it is all we will ask of them.—Sabbath Recorder.